30 July to 4 August
2008
Relief & Rehabilitation Team
3
our 3rd Metta
& Karuna team were in villages located at the worst hit
townships in the delta region of Myanmar
Team 3 & well wishers at the Changi Airport on 30 July 2008
Team 3 Report
This third
trip (30-Jul to 4-Aug) made by Firefly Mission for our Project
Cyclone Nargis was by far the most challenging and tough. Our
team of 9 volunteers had to travel many hours along badly
damaged roads to get from one town to another. For example the
distance between Pyapon and Bogale was only about 30km and it
took us 4 hrs to travel one way. We also spent many hours
exposed to the elements….scorching summer sun and heavy monsoon
rains… as we made our way in the mostly uncovered fishing boats
to the villages in the Irrawaddy Delta. There are no roads in
most parts of the Irrawaddy estuaries and boats were our only
means of transport. To reach the villages we had to clamber
onto rickety piers made with a few broken planks; at times
squelching through ankle-deep mud and balancing on slippery tree
trunks. Despite these apparent “hardship”, we visited a total of
10 villages in the worst hit townships of Bogale, Pyapon,
Moulmeingyun and Dedaye. All our fatigue, discomforts, aches
and pain from the long hours of travel in cramped conditions,
were however quickly forgotten when we arrive and are greeted
with smiles and appreciative responses from the Cyclone Nargis
victims. They have suffered so much more… loss of their homes
and material belongings as well as family, friends and
relatives, and yet their rebound and resilience are showing
through.
It was
heartwarming for me to see evident signs of recovery in living
conditions in these areas that were worst hit by Cyclone Nargis
in early May. I was privileged to be a member of Team 2 which
visited the area from 10 to 15 June, and am now, 45 days later,
able to witness significant progress in the villages we had
visited. Many homes have since been rebuilt using the locally
available resources such as attap palm, coconut trunks and
bamboos. Schooling have resumed in numerous repaired monasteries
or temporary tents donated by aid agencies. Large expanse of
beautiful and luscious green rice fields have returned to the
delta, as more rice fields are being replanted. Firefly Mission
is proud to have contributed to this with our donation of rice
seeds, tilling machines and diesel fuel to the villages. All
members of Team 3 felt that the most striking sight was the
smiles of renewed confidence in the faces of these survivors of
the killer Cyclone Nargis that left more than 140,000 of their
fellow countrymen dead and over 1,500,000 homeless.
The residents
of these 10 villages that we visited are the beneficiaries of
Firefly Mission’s emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts;
that included distribution of food (rice, dahl etc) and basic
necessities, replanting of rice fields programme and pledges to
rebuild rural schools and clinics. These villagers can consider
themselves very fortunate to be the recipients of the generous
donations from Firefly Mission’s members, volunteers and
supporters. Our donors have shown their full trust and faith in
our comprehensive relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Whilst we are
indeed very happy and grateful for the opportunity to help the
Cyclone victims from the 10 villages above, we are also saddened
to know that there are many more villages that have not received
much assistance. Some of them did receive sporadic aid from
local Myanmese citizens and other aid agencies, but many still
need help in areas such as:
-
Replanting of
rice fields. For those who missed this monsoon season,
assistance is required to provide rice seeds, tilling machine,
fuel and water pump for the next replanting season in summer.
- Rebuilding
of rural schools and clinics previously built by donations from
monasteries or villagers
- Food
rations to meet immediate needs, at least until harvest time at
the end of the year.
-
Relocation,
education, care and livelihood of children either orphaned by
Cyclone Nargis, or whose poor parents lost their livelihood and
are unable to feed and clothe them.
We must all thank and congratulate Brother ST
Chan for his extraordinary efforts in Firefly Mission’s Cyclone
Nargis relief and rehabilitation work! His full commitment and
dedication in directing, coordinating and overseeing all the
relief and rehabilitation work in the Delta area, has
tremendously enhanced Firefly Mission’s impact on the local
community. Of course, our local partners (Eden Group of Company
and All Venerables) working silently but effectively behind the
scenes are our unseen heroes supporting and clearing the paths
for us.
Last but not least, all these work cannot
take place without the selfless support of all our
donors, supporters, volunteers, friends and families. Their
sacrifice and contribution have been amazing. I cannot thank
them enough.
We would like to dedicate all our wholesome
deeds and merits to all victims and loved ones
May all be well, happy and peaceful!
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
With Gratitude & Metta
yeekong
for FireFly Mission
Views from our volunteers:
Bro Liew:
Very happy to
see with my own eye how fast the people of Myanmar recovered
from the disaster they been thru. Can we be like them ??? Can we
accept the facts as fast as they did ???
Sis Elsie:
The villagers
are resilient and life get back to normal so quickly. Hope to
share experience with more people in hope of getting more
donation.
I will not
hesitate to go again if opportunity arises again.
Bro Goh:
This trip has
been an eye opening experience for me and it is amazing to see
that the villagers are getting back to living a normal life so
quickly.
Overall, it
has been a very fruitful and enriching trip.
Bro Rene:
I actually
have no idea of the physical conditions. I would put it as back
to the 60s(maybe even earlier except I wasn’t born then!),
definitely not in the 70s. Basic hygiene was lacking with no
proper water and toilets. Road infrastructure was almost
non-existent. Almost all villages were accessible only by small
boats, and then by foot, and where even the most basic vehicle -
the bicycle - is useless!
Despite the
physical conditions, team members were in high spirits and very
focused. Just watching the serenity and dignified faces of the
villagers, and the gratified faces of the children is enough to
warm any hearts. These are people living in some of the world’s
most exposed terrains yet, in spite of their predicament, shows
such tenacity and dignity.
This is my
first humanitarian trip. I come back with the best of feelings
that all that FFM has done has been nothing short of first class
– better than any other international organization. Yes,
together we light up the world!
Sis Bee
Har & Bro Kevin (New Volunteers):
I am deeply
impressed with Firefly Mission's dedication and commitment in
helping the cyclone survivors. The passion I felt seeing each of
you giving your best effort to make the trip/mission as fruitful
as possible, the sincerity and compassion when you interact with
the locals, the total respect for their culture, and of course
not forgetting Bro Chan's full commitment :)
We would like to salute you all for your unconditional love,
courage and vision.
Thank you for making the world a better place.
Bro Meng
Seng:
Although the living condition is bad. The spirits of the people
were very high; farmers have gone back to farm, fishermen
have gone out to fish. They had gone back to their normal life
after the cyclone Nargis hit them on 2 May 2008.
I am really inspired by the people at delta area. Some have lost
their love and valuable possession, but they did not sorrow and
grief.
There are lessons to learn from the disaster:
Be it good or
bad times, they do not last, they too will pass away.
I believe that the Dhamma was with them.
Table: Summary of
Accomplishment
|
TEAM 3 (30 July to 4 August 2008) |
|
· |
Distributed Relief Medical Supplies (about
150kg) to Pyapon Hospital |
|
· |
Distributed Relief Medical Supplies (about
200kg) to Bogale Hospital |
|
· |
Purchased & Distributed about 10 tonnes of Relief Food Items (Rice,
Dahl & Cooking Oil)
to about 4,000 victims staying in 8 villages located at the Dedaye
Township
|
|
· |
Distributed 1,285 sets of stationeries to students
in villages located at the Bogale, Moulmeingyun,
Pyapon and Dedaye Townships
|
|
· |
Distributed sandals, biscuits, and others to
villages located at the Bogale, Moulmeingyun,
Pyapon and Dedaye Townships
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More ...
- more
pictures from Team 3 mission
SADHU SADHU SADHU
